Chapter 24- Journey
Antoinette Giry heard the carriage coming from quite a distance and she knew what it was. Instinct told her that it had been brewing for a while, she had visited with Meg several times and Christine had been barely audible when she spoke, almost demure but not in an endearing sort of way. She had also lost weight, a notable amount of weight and Antoinette had noticed the concern Raoul had shown, although it had little effect on Christine's mood.
It was understandable, of course, and Antoinette respected Christine for at least making a show of the devoted wife, devoted family member but she knew it could not, and would not, last. Tonight had been the night, though. Antoinette had been invited to the event but past on the occasion to spend it with Meg and her Henry. It made her smile that the De Chagney driver was also a Henry. They were both so very opposite in features and manner but so close in the way they responded to women. Respectful.
When he had knocked at the door she had opened it with caution and then smiled at him. He had returned her smile, removed his cap and explained that Vicomtess de Chagney wished to spend the night with Meg. When asked where she was he informed her quietly and politely that she was sleeping in the back of the carriage and asked should he wake her. Antoinette smiled and pondered for a moment before asking the coach driver to wait for a second on the door step.
She wandered back into the house and after a few minutes she came back out holding a piece of paper. She handed it to Henry with strict instructions that, for a sum of money, he was not to tell anyone where he had been, he was to destroy the paper once he had made his way back and that he was never to tell the Vicomtess how he had gotten her there. Henry had nodded, taking the money from her gingerly and stepping back up to his carriage. With a tilt of his cap he was away leaving Antoinette to wonder if she had done the right thing.